ADRIENNE tell me if the question is understandable (if it isn't sens me a message)

Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:07 pm

Pimprenelle

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:54 amPosts: 2040

My favorite biographie is Simone Bertière's. It's clever, sensible, beautiful, well documented... and written with a great talent. I also appreciate Fraser. And, in a different way, I just love "farewell my queen", by Chantal Thomas.

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Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:20 pm

CrY

Duc/Duchesse

Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 7:48 pmPosts: 155Location: Sardinia (Italy)

yes, I know him just for the name. I'm sorry but in Italie all the biographies are not imported (or maybe just in my island!!!) I work so hard to find other biographies!! I must go to Milan to find someone!!!
bye

Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:55 pm

Pimprenelle

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:54 amPosts: 2040

Why don't you order them on the net ? It's a good option ! I found a lot of books and dvds this way.

I don't particularly have a favorite at the moment, it seemed like all the bio's on her I read were missing something and then I'd find that something in another bio about her but that one would be missing something else.
At the moment I am re reading Antonia Fraser's because I can't remember it to be honest

Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:11 am

Therese

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:04 pmPosts: 2266

I have found the same to be true about most of the biographies. Either they are missing something or have something bad about Louis or something totally inaccurate about both of them. One must read MANY biographies and memoirs in order to get an accurate picture of Marie Antoinette. The best bio I have read, the most complete, was Nesta Webster's two volume work.

Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:13 am

Therese

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:04 pmPosts: 2266

Uh, oh. I just found out that Nesta Webster later became a Nazi supporter. Oh, no! But her biography is still extremely detailed. As I said, one needs to read many things in order to get a clear picture.

Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:29 am

Pimprenelle

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:54 amPosts: 2040

I fully agree with you, dear Therese. We must read the more we can, so as to enlarge our points of view. Even books on other characters, that put events in other perspectives. For instance, it's impossible to really approach Marie-Antoinette without reading about Louis XVI. Their biographies answer one another.

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Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:16 am

CrY

Duc/Duchesse

Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 7:48 pmPosts: 155Location: Sardinia (Italy)

In italy it's not very simple to find these books !!!

Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:22 pm

Therese

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:04 pmPosts: 2266

Yes, CrY, I think one is limited everywhere to a complete library of all the books written about Louis and Antoinette. Here, it is difficult to find French language books. Although, I have in the past found inter-library loan to be very helpful. And some books are online now, such as Mme Campan's memoirs.

Yes, Pimprenelle, Louis and Antoinette have to be investigated together, since they were married to each other, after all. Vincent Cronin said the same thing. His dual biography is superb except that then later he goes in for the "reste-la" theory. Desmond Seward is excellent, but then he talks about Louis' alleged operation, which we now know did not happen. Bernard Fay writes magnificently about Louis but then he hates Antoinette. As I said, I always thought Nesta Webster was the best in the English language, but now I find out she was a Nazi sympathizer (I will look into those allegations at some point.) I have never found a "perfect" biographical treatment of either Louis or his queen.

Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:17 pm

Pimprenelle

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:54 amPosts: 2040

Simone Bertière's Marie-Antoinette is far above all that I have read. I also appreciated Philippe Delorme. He's not for the "resté là" theory ! and shows that king and queen were not against the third estate.

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Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:52 pm

Therese

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:04 pmPosts: 2266

Are those books translated into English now?

Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:28 pm

Pimprenelle

Prince/Princesse

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:54 amPosts: 2040

I don't know, Therese... But as soon as Bertiere is... it's the best one !

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